Blog

​Spring is here! The arrival of spring in Taiwan comes with beautiful cherry blossoms in all shades of pink. We're surrounded by thousands of cherry tree plantations along the northern coastline. The feeling of LIFE and ENERGY inspired us to create a brand new Ayurvedic detox retreat (stay tuned for details). You can also start your own spring renewal detox right away from home. We want to share with you five simple ayurvedic detox techniques you can do right away to FEEL ALIVE!

1. Drink lemon water. Drink one cup of warm lemon water first thing in the morning to flush out toxins, improve digestion, and boost the immune system.

3. Use a tongue scraper. Brushing your teeth is not enough! Undigested toxins in the body reside in the tongue, scrap the tongue at night before bedtime to maintain good oral health.

4. Make lunch the biggest meal of the day. Learn to. be in sync with nature. Our digestion like the sun is the hottest / strongest between 11:00am - 2:00pm.

5. Spend time in solitude with nature. Take a walk in the forest. Beathe in the fresh air. Swim in the ocean. Quiet the mind and connect with nature's abundant life energy.

​Zen Wisdom & Inspiration

​"Why am I doing this?"

Ask yourself this question often.

Take time to reflect on your journey.

Remember your origin, your initial intentions, your burning desires that motivated you to take the very first step. Reflecting on the beginning will shed light on the present to give you courage and guide you on the right path.

- Zen Master Chang -

​Experience the Real Taiwan

​It's flower season! Our favourite place to admire flowers is Bamboo Lake inside Yangmingshan National Park. Every March, the lake is surrounded by pristine white calla lilies covering more than 13 hectares. We had an impromptu yoga session at the Bamboo Lake during our Signature Weekend Retreat last weekend. What a gorgeous backdrop to inspire our yoga practice!

Yoga + Wild Food Adventure in Canada3 Full Day Sessions: May 26/ June 2/ June 3 2018

​Hello friends, family, and fellow yogis in Canada, we created a retreat just for you! Lydia will be in Canada this summer and she's excited to share her adventure with you! Relax and unwind in pure Canadian wilderness. This special retreat takes places at Healthy Earth Utopia Cottage, a true utopia with over 62 acres of trails, forests, and abundant nature less than one hour drive from downtown Toronto.

​February is the month of love. This year we can feel an even stronger presence of love with Valentine's Day falling on the eve of Chinese New Year. Where can you find love? How do you foster loving relationships? Why is love so difficult?

Questions related to love are the most common questions we receive from you at Origin Yoga & Wellness. Zen Master Chang often tells this story for those seeking love and abundance in their life.

"When we see a beautiful butterfly, we chase after it with a net hoping to catch it and keep it for our own. But the more you chase after the butterfly obsessively, the more it runs away. If you instead focus your energy on blossoming into a magnificent flower, one day the beautiful butterfly will naturally come to land on your petals."

That's the thing with love and anything else you desire in life. Set your intentions for what you what but don't obsessively chase after it. Work on loving yourself first with joy and compassion. Blossom into the best version of yourself you can possibly be. One day, you will find what you're looking for is already yours.

We wish you a Happy Valentine's Day and Lunar New Year filled with love!

​A Year of Transformation

​Origin Yoga & Wellness is one year old! We want to thank you for being by our side every step of the way. To celebrate this special milestone, we made a video to remember our "origin" from the beginning. Cheers to another year of new adventures!

​Decadent Vegan Carrot Cake

As requested, here is the vegan carrot cake recipe from our one-year anniversary celebration day that you loved! Enjoy this decadent and moist carrot cake with creamy coconut whip cream. It's super easy to make and good for you. Just remember to make extras because these delicious cakes are a sure crowd pleaser! :) ​

In a large bowl or using a mixer, combine all ingredients together except grated carrots until well mixed. Add the carrots last, gently folding them in to combine well.

Spread your carrot cake batter evenly in your prepared baking pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes.

Enjoy the cake as it, or top it off with some whipped coconut cream* or other vegan cream cheese.

​* Try making coconut whip cream from scratch! Refrigerating a can of coconut milk overnight. Scoop coconut cream solids into a cold mixing bowl. Beat coconut cream using an electric mixer with chilled beaters until creamy and frothy (add in sugar and vanilla as desired).

​Experience the Real Taiwan

​Just beyond the northern tip of Taiwan lies a Secret Beach where the water is crystal clear and smooth white rock formations line the shores. Once a military base, the entry point to the Secret Beach was securely hidden. Adding to the mystery, this majestic shoreline disappears and reappears throughout the season depending on the direction of the tides. We were lucky to find the Secret Beach on the very first attempt during our Signature Weekend Retreat and enjoyed a gorgeous sunset by this magical creation of nature. Can't wait to go back for a second visit!

The Ultimate 1 Day Yoga Relaxation RetreatMarch 10, 2018

​In partnership with Botanica Studio, we are offering an exclusive 1 Day Yoga Relaxation Retreat. Begin the day with a restorative yoga practice overlooking the beautiful Baishawan beach. Indulge in healthy vegetarian lunch, homemade kombucha, and delicious raw vegan dessert lovingly prepared by Chef Edward. In the afternoon, go on a gentle hike through Yangmingshan National Park to soak in the lush greenery. End the day with a much-needed luxury outdoor hot spring soak at a nearby resort. Only a few spots left, send us a message to inquire and reserve today!

​We've been hearing from many of you expressing mixed feelings in January after all the Christmas and New Year celebration frenzies. Some of you are excited to embark on new endeavors, some of you are feeling drained from the excessive eating and drinking, some of you are feeling depressed for already failing some new year resolutions.

Whatever you are feeling right now, STOP, take a deep breath.....

Take a look at this georgous sunset at Baishawan (taken by one of our yoga retreat guest, thank you Allinson)! What a stunning moment captured on film to inspire our connection to nature. This beautiful sunset is a lovely reminder that new beginnings don't just happen in January. We can have a fresh start with every sunset, with every sunrise, with every breath we take. With this simple truth in mind, give yourself the permission to RELAX, LET GO, and RESTART knowing that every single moment is an opportunity for change.

​Healing Science of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the world’s oldest holistic healing system originating from India. By living in harmony with nature, we can achieve the necessary mind-body balance for profound and lasting physical healing. As we're entering the winter months, here's a simple natural remedy to strengthen your immune system and beat the winter blues. ​

Ayurvedic Sun BathGet outside or sit by the window with your back facing the sun for 10-15 minutes. Sit quietly focusing on the sensation of heat in along your spine. Repeat daily. We absorb the sun energy through the chakras located along our spinal cord. This simple practice of sun bathing can restore your energy, prevent, and heal diseases.

To receive a personalized Ayurveda health regime that is most suitable to your unique constitution, try our Passage to Ayurveda Wellness treatment now available as part of your yoga retreat experience.

​Zen Wisdom & Inspiration

​We wrapped up an amazing year with a blissful women's year-end retreat. Our group of beautiful women came from France, Canada, South Africa, China and Taiwan but we bonded instantly with with one thing: an open heart to give, receive, and co-create energy for transformation.

Laughter should be shared, pain needs to be heard, and accomplishments deserve to be celebrated! Whatever your heart desires this year, don't do it alone. Surround yourself with the people, places, and things that can uplift and inspire you and let the magic begin!

​Experience the Real Taiwan

​Did you know Taiwan has the largest number and density of high mountains in the world? One of our favorite is the lush forests of Green Mountain inside Yangmingshan National Park. Hidden inside the wilderness lies a majestic waterfalls, lime green rocks, and a perfectly secluded and calm spot for forest bathing and quiet meditations. We visit this special place often during our Signature Weekend Yoga Retreat to simply stay grounded and connect with the heartbeats of the mountain.

​Upcoming Guest Teacher Retreat

Mindful Eating, Mindful Livingwith Olivia ParkMarch 17, 2018

"To feel strong, confident and live a happy life we need to move and eat to nourish our bodies. Food and movement should enrich our lives and never be a chore" - Olivia Park​

Mindful eating transform our struggles with food and renew our sense of pleasure, appreciation, and satisfaction with eating. Join us on an intuitive eating journey with Olivia Park. Olivia is an inspirational personal trainer, female health coach, and accomplished athlete currently holds the title of Fittest Woman in Taiwan from the 2017 Worldwide CrossFit Open.

Our special day retreat also features yoga & meditation with Lydia Chang, cooking demonstration with Chef Edward, and a nature walk to see cherry blossoms of the season!

Author

Hello beautiful people! I'm Lydia, a yogi that quit her corporate job in Canada to open a yoga retreat in Taiwan, my home country.

I enjoy teaching yoga and meditation to others. I love exploring Taipei to find new and exciting hidden gems to share with my guests. I also like to live a mindful life, trying to not create harm to animals or the environment.

This blog is a compilation of places to see in northern Taiwan, healthy delicious vegetarian/vegan recipes, upcoming retreats and events, words of wisdom from my father, Zen Master Chang, Ayurvedic lifestyle tips, and much much more.